Compare towns
Putnam vs Thomaston vs Killingly vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putnam | Thomaston | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
7,492Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.